The Wooden Bowl
January 9th, 2011 | Author: kim
Mang Daniel just got home. At 70, he has been in and out of the hospital afflicted with various illnesses associated with old age. His eyesight is dim, his hearing is dull and his strength is not even enough to get him to the nearest pharmacy to buy himself his medicine. He also has this tremor that makes him drop things every now and then.
His son, Danilo, sympathetic though he is about his father’s condition, is fed up of his wife’s nagging him about broken china. So, one day, he went to the backyard and looked for a nice coconut shell. Very earnestly he began to smooth the shell with a sand paper. This activity caught the attention of his 5 year old son, Derek who asked him what he was doing.
To this, he answered, ‘I’m making a wooden bowl for Grandpa Daniel, so that he won’t break your mama’s china anymore..’ Derek nodded in understanding and went back to his playing.
After a week, as little Derek watched his Grandpa Daniel eating in his wooden bowl, he was struck by an inspiration. He went out to find another coconut shell and set out to work the way he saw his father. When he was done, he ran to his father and showed his handiwork. Surprised, Danilo asked Derek, ‘What is that, Derek?’
Derek smiled sweetly and answered, ‘This is a wooden bowl I made for you to use when you get old like Grandpa Daniel..’
That night, Danilo wept and made a promise to himself never to treat his father dishonorably again..
Nakakatouch naman tong story mo ate kim. you made me miss my parents more.
Very meaningful story…
I’m so touched!
indeed a good story for us to learn. i have heard this story before and always keep in my mind i wont do this to my parents.
nice post kim. happy sunday!
Yes, sometimes it takes a little child’s innocent action to wake us up from the harsh reality of our own selfish action. The golden rule says, “do unto others what you want others to do unto you.” Thanks for the meaningful post. God bless you all always.
haha. what a lesson this is for the father. now he realized that he’s mistakenly shown to his son how he should be treated when he would reach the sunset of his life.